Social Media Archives

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

You Can Now Launch First-Party PlayStation Games Through the Xbox PC App

A recent video has shown a first-party PlayStation game launching from Xbox’s new PC app, which is part of Microsoft's efforts to improve the Xbox PC app on Windows. This app now allows users to access software purchased from various storefronts, including Steam and the Epic Games Store. Popular PlayStation titles like God of War Ragnarok and Days Gone can be launched from the Xbox PC app, although this functionality is currently limited to beta testers. Users can create shortcuts to PlayStation games within the app, but cannot purchase or install them directly. The situation raises questions about the implications for Sony's strategies and the value of console exclusives. While this development opens up opportunities for Microsoft, it may also challenge its software sales and service pricing.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

Steam is down — live updates on outage

Reports of an outage on the Steam platform began around 9:50 a.m. Pacific Time, peaking at approximately 3,000 reports by 10:30 a.m. The Steam Store was marked as offline, while other services were functioning normally. The Steam Charts page was also experiencing issues, despite over 32 million users being online. The Steam Summer Sale was ongoing, with significant discounts, which may have contributed to the server overload. Down Detector reported over 4,400 outage reports, with users unable to purchase games or access their wishlists. Users encountered problems loading their carts and wishlists, and the outage continued for several hours, with reports climbing to nearly 5,000. After a couple of hours, users noticed improvements, and reports on Down Detector decreased to around 1,200, indicating that the platform was returning to normal.

AppWizard

June 27, 2025

How to Change the Language in Specific Apps on Android

To change the language on an app on Android, follow these steps: 1. Open the Settings app on your device. 2. Scroll down and select System. 3. Select Languages & input. 4. Select App Languages. 5. Choose the specific app you want to change the language for, click on it, and select the desired language. Additionally, Android offers a Google Play Auto Archiving feature that allows you to free up storage space while preserving user data and settings.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

‘Scary’ Android change sparks fears as Google warns AI will ‘control’ WhatsApp

Google is integrating its Gemini AI tools into various smartphone applications, including Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities. Users have been informed that Gemini will assist with these applications regardless of whether the Gemini Apps Activity is activated or deactivated. Users who have opted out of these features will retain their settings, but the lack of clear instructions on disabling the features has caused confusion and concern among users. The rollout of these changes is set to begin on July 7. Gemini will offer capabilities such as brainstorming ideas, connecting with Google apps, studying with interactive visuals, providing tailored information, planning trips, creating AI-generated images, and summarizing content.

AppWizard

June 26, 2025

Google’s New Change for Gemini Turns Out to Not Be a Privacy Concern

On Tuesday, Google sent an email to select users indicating that the Gemini AI assistant on Android would connect to certain applications, such as Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities, regardless of whether the App Activity setting was disabled. The email stated that users could turn off these features in the Apps settings, leading to confusion about the term "Apps." The "Gemini Apps Activity" setting, currently available only on the website, governs whether Google retains user prompts exchanged with Gemini in an activity log. When enabled, this setting allows Google to use user data for improving its products and services, while disabling it results in data being deleted after 72 hours. Previously, with the setting turned off, the Gemini AI assistant could not connect to on-device applications, but an update scheduled for July 7 will lift this limitation, allowing interaction without activating activity logs.

BetaBeacon

June 25, 2025

Google quietly launches HTML5 games hub Instant Games on select Android devices

Google has quietly launched a new app called Instant Games on the Play Store. This app offers a variety of HTML5 games that users can explore, filter by categories, search for specific titles, and mark favorites. Some of the games featured include Banana Run, 99 Balls, Billiards Classic, and Om Nom Run. The app aims to provide easy access to games without the need for additional downloads and is currently only accessible on select Android devices.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

How to create custom AI stickers on a Google Pixel phone

Google has introduced the Pixel Studio app for the Pixel 9 series, allowing users to access custom AI-generated images and stickers. The custom AI stickers feature was launched with the June 2025 Pixel Feature Drop and is exclusive to the Google Pixel 9 series, including the Pixel 9, Pixel 9a, Pixel 9 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro XL, and Pixel 9 Pro Fold. This functionality is available for devices set to English, Japanese, or German. Users must update to Android 16 and may need to update Gboard and Pixel Studio via the Google Play Store to access the feature. To create custom AI stickers, users can open the keyboard in any app, tap the emoji symbol, press the AI sticker button, and follow the prompts to generate and save their stickers. Custom AI stickers cannot depict anything resembling a person. The base-model Google Pixel 9 supports the latest AI innovations, including custom AI stickers.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Google May Give More Access to Gemini on Android, Raises Privacy Concerns

On Tuesday, Google informed select Android users via email about an upcoming enhancement to its Gemini AI assistant, which will allow it to interact with various on-device applications starting July 7, regardless of user settings. The email, which has been shared on social media, indicates that Gemini will interface with apps like Phone, Messages, WhatsApp, and Utilities, even if the Gemini Apps Activity is turned off. Users can disable these features in the Apps settings, but the email's wording raises confusion about privacy and data usage. Currently, the only way to restrict app access is through the Gemini application’s Apps page, but the update suggests that Gemini's interactions will continue regardless of these settings. There has been no formal announcement from Google to clarify these changes.

AppWizard

June 25, 2025

Peak devs say the hit comedy climber was pitched in a Swedish hot tub and developed in a frantic 4-week Korean game jam: ‘We brought our computers to an Airbnb in Hongdae and locked tf in for a month’

Peak is a new indie game developed by Aggro Crab and Landfall, inspired by the rapid development of Content Warning during a game jam. The game's design process was playful, focusing on humorous moments. Peak has sold over 1 million copies and is available on Steam.

AppWizard

June 24, 2025

LEAK: Android XR Companion App, ‘Martha’ Glasses

Google's Android XR platform is developing smart glasses named Martha, which will have a companion app similar to the Pixel Watch. A leaked image reveals the app will allow users to manage notifications, adjust settings, and use features like Record Your View and quick feedback options. The glasses are designed with robust arms to house battery and smart technology, equipped with speakers for interactions with Gemini, and include a dedicated button for function access. They resemble Ray-Ban’s Meta glasses and are likely still in the prototype phase. There is growing enthusiasm for Google's entry into augmented reality, although a launch date for Android XR has not been announced.